C’RIVER GOVT SHUTS DOWN 33 MORE ILLEGAL SCHOOLS AS EDUCATION SANITATION CONTINUES ACROSS THE STATE

BY PATRICIA OGBECHE

The Cross River State Government has intensified its ongoing effort to sanitize the education sector with the closure of 33 additional illegal and unapproved schools operating across various Local Government Areas of the state.

The enforcement exercise, spearheaded by the State Ministry of Education’s Task Force on Illegal Schools, is part of the Ministry’s mandate to ensure that all schools operate within approved standards and possess the mandatory Approval to Operate (ATO).

The Task Force, inaugurated by the Commissioner for Education, Senator (Prof.) Stephen Odey, with the approval of Governor Bassey Edet Otu and the State Executive Council, continued its operations on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

This latest operation follows the closure of 36 unapproved schools on Monday, bringing the total number of schools shut down to 69 in just two days.

In Calabar South LGA (Calabar Educational Zone), 15 illegal schools were sealed, including:

1. Angels Court High School, 82 Goldie Street
2. Etel Academy, 1 Webber Street off Target
3. David City Schools, 42 Murray Street, Mayne Avenue
4. Future Assured International Nursery & Primary School, 21 Amika Utuk off Goldie
5. Salem Victory Academy Nursery, Primary & Secondary School, 182/192 Goldie Street
6. Divine Grace Schools, 20B Akpanim Street off Goldie
7. High Grace International Secondary School, 13 St. Mary’s Close off Ekpo Abasi
8. Destined Leaders International Schools, 48 Ekpo Abasi Street
9. Elssin International Schools, 29 Howell Street
10. Grace Ambassador/Potters Academy, 8 Utokang Street
11. Overcomers International Nursery & Primary School, Mosembe Street off Jebs Road
12. Divine Future Academy, 5 Okon Archibong Street
13. The President Pathway Schools, 14 Okon Archibong Street
14. Happiness Foundation School, 12 Abitu Avenue, Jebs
15. Divine God’s Grace Academy Secondary School, 33 New Airport Road

In Boki LGA (Ikom Educational Zone), nine (9) schools were also closed, including:

16. Precious Nursery & Primary School, Iruan
17. Seed of Wisdom Nursery & Primary School, Borum
18. St. Mary’s Nursery & Primary School, Katchuan Iruan
19. Christ Total Secondary School, Katchuan Iruan
20. Liberty Nursery & Primary School, Iruan
21. Liberty Secondary School, Katchuan Iruan
22. Unity Group of Schools, Bankpor
23. The Lord’s Redeem Nursery & Primary School, Borum
24. Evangel Light Academy, Etomob Road, Ikom

Similarly, in Ogoja/Yala LGAs (Ogoja Educational Zone), eight (8) illegal schools were shut down, including:

25. Flourish Christian Learning Academy, Mfom II, Ogoja
26. Monaku Great Light Academy, Mfom I, Ogoja
27. St. Mary Anglican Nursery & Primary School, Yahe, Yala
28. Glo-Gold International Nursery & Primary School, Yahe, Yala
29. God General Academy, Yahe, Yala
30. Spring Board Secondary School, Yahe, Yala
31. Lutheran Nursery & Primary School, Woleche, Okpoma
32. Champion Royal Academy, Olachor, Okpoma

The Ministry clarified that the exercise is corrective rather than punitive, emphasizing that its goal is to ensure compliance with government standards and safeguard children from substandard learning conditions.

Reiterating the government’s commitment, Senator (Prof.) Stephen Odey warned proprietors of unapproved schools to regularize their operations by obtaining the necessary Approval to Operate (ATO) or risk permanent closure.

“Our goal is to protect children from substandard learning environments and uphold the integrity of our education system,” Senator Odey stated. “Every school must meet the required standards before operating in Cross River State.”

The Ministry reaffirmed that the enforcement exercise will continue across all educational zones until the state’s education sector is fully sanitized, standardized, and aligned with national education benchmarks.